Spring wheel



O t- 20, 1 1- w. E. KAWALLE 1,828,322

SPRING WHEEL Patented Oct. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. KAWALLE, or MANIzrowoc, 'wIsooNsIN SPRING WHEEL Application filed August 9, 1929. Serial No. 384,563;

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in spring wheels.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a spring wheel which can be used for motor Vehicles and other traction vehicles for replacing or to be used in conjunction with the pneumatic tire in use at the present time, and the spring members are so arranged as to readily absorb any shock '10 or jar imparted to the wheel at any point on stantially U-shaped spring members with improved hub members for receiving the ends of adjacent spring members and wherein the hub carries a locking dog adapted to engage the ends of the spring members in adjacent pairs so as to securely lock the ends of the spring within the hub.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a spring wheel so constructed and arranged that should any of the springs become broken they can be quickly and easily replaced, and when the springs are in position they are securely locked against movement both to the folly and the hub of the wheel.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claim and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation, illustrating a portion of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with my invention with parts thereof broken away and illustrated in cross section; v 1

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 'of Figure 1; f Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1; and, j i

Figure 4 is a section on the line of Figurel Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates; the'rim of the wheel and 2 indicates in general the hub; The hub Qgis provided upon opposite sidesthereof with radial recesses 3, the recesses upon one sid'eof the hub being arranged alternately between "he the recesses on the other side of the hub.

The hub block 2'is positioned between an in- 1 tegral annular flange 4 on the bearing sleeve 5, and the removable plate6 with securing bolts 7 passing through the flange 4,the plate 6 and the hub block2'. As'illustrated in Figure 1, the spring members are arranged in series upon opposite sides of the central portion of the' 'wheel and each spring member comprises an outer sin- '70 gle member 8, the intermediate portion of which is arcuate, as shown at 9 with'the ends extending in a curved line finwardly andarranged in converging relation at '10 with the ends thereof arranged in the spaced recesses '3, one endof each spr ng being arranged in opposed recesses and juxtaposition with an adjacent end of the next'spring member in order. In order to're'tain' the'ends of the A springmembers in position with the recesses 86 3, the hub block 2 is provided upon each side thereof and between the recesses w'ith apertures 11 for receiving the lockingQpins, 12, thus it will be noted that the pins 12 are H passed throughapertures in one side of the hub lock andhave their tapered or pointed end portions 13 engaged Within saw toothed notches 14 in the ends of the spring members. From this, it will be apparentthat; after the rest of the spring members have been placed in osition, the locking pins 12 can be mserted t rough apertures 11 and engaged with the ends of the pins. These pins are held in lplace by means the flange 4 and the cir- 5 en ar locking plate 6.

In order to provide a wheel of suflicient strength to withstand a considerable load, the spring members 8 have arranged on the main body portion of the spring a plurality of laminations 15 which are shaped to conform with the shape of the main spring member, and itri preferred to have the innermost laminatiomwomewhlt heavier than the other laminations in order to withstand the pressure and wear of the fastening member which connects the spring members to the rim 1. This fastenin member includes a sleeve 16 mounted on t e bearing bolt 17, the ends of the bolt carried by substantially triangularly sir-sped members 18 having spaced lugs 19 thebase thereof and adapted to be ineutedthnough suitable apertures in the rim 1 with the outer ends upset or overturned in order to prevent withdrawal of the lugs 19 I. after being placed in osition.

i. It willbe apparent fiom the foregoing that I have provided a simple and inexpensive "wring wheel wherein substantially U-shaped ring members are used with their intermeattached to the rim in alternatin or relation upon opposite sides oithe m of the rim and the ends thereof are ibteehobly secured to the hub block in such manner as to permit quick detachment oi the ends of the springs when it is desired lie remove any of them.

arranging the spring members in the 'mor illustrated. all shock or jar which is to the wheel through the striking 0 at an ob'ect in the path of the wheel will be abeorbe by the spring members and not be conveyed to the hub and thence to the body of the vehicle.

It will also be noted that by arranging the Q ends 0 the spring members so that the adjacent ends of adjacent spring members will be honed in a single recess, the locking pins mmbe used for locking two adjacent spring members in position. Q Whale I have shown and described the prefierred embodiment of my invention, it will he parent that sllght changes may be made 11} construction when putting the inventaengnto gaetlce without departing from the 5 tpf esame or the scope of the appendchua.

;A spring wheel including a hub having ra- H] d recesses upon opposite faces I a and m staggered relation, each recess by wke aperture, spring umtsa vm overlapping relation upon of the peripheral center of the ends of said spring members being I positioned in the hub recesses, each having a consin.

WILLIAM E. KAWALLE. 

